Jaguar Land Rover's £500 million expansion plans in the West Midlands have been signed off by central government.

The secretary of state has decided not to 'call in' plans for the luxury car firm to expand its global headquarters at Whitley near Coventry onto a 60-acre green belt site south of the A45.

The development had been viewed as controversial by some, including the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, which raised concerns about building on the site.

Green belt building plans tend to be called in by the secretary of state but Greg Clark has decided against doing so in this instance after the scheme was approved by Coventry City Council and Warwick District Council.

Previous plans in the area near Coventry Airport and Baginton have been rejected.

In February last year, then Secretary of State Eric Pickles blocked the Coventry Gateway plan which promised to create thousands of jobs but had no end.

In a letter to Coventry City Council, the department for local government department has confirmed its decision not to intervene this time.

It reads: "The policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.

"The Government is committed to give more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues and believes planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.

"The secretary of state has decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in the application. He is content that the application should be determined by the local planning authority."

JLR's expansion plans would create an estimated 2,000 jobs on top of the 5,600 people currently employed at the site - as well as 500 construction jobs during the building phase.

All that remains now is the formality of completing the relevant land purchases and final sign off on £35m of funding for infrastructure - including a bridge over the A45 - which our sister paper the Coventrt Telegraph recently revealed had already been agreed by government officials behind the scenes.

Those involved in the project believe it will inject £200 million into the local economy with Jaguar Land Rover set to occupy half of the 60-acre site - referred to as Gateway North - and JLR suppliers earmarked for the remaining land.

The news will be a boost to Jaguar Land Rover's secret long-term plans for the city which could ultimately see vehicle manufacturing return to the city.